From classics like the polar bear plunge and human dogsled race to newer traditions like Phi Delta Alpha fraternity’s fourth-annual chili cook-off, this year’s “Clash of Carnivals: Superheroes vs. Villains”-themed Winter Carnival is packed with programming.
Though the theme faced copyright issues that prevented the use of any established characters, Winter Carnival Council Chair Katie Gibson ’15 said that the student body has responded positively. She said that both DC Comics and Marvel did not agree to let the council use their trademarked superheroes. Students had to be creative when developing posters, T-shirt designs and the snow sculpture, Gibson said.
“This year we were trying to find a theme that would be just as popular and that the rest of campus would like and appreciate,” Gibson said. This will be the second year the ice sculpture contest is included as a part of the weekend’s festivities. The Council increased the number of ice sculpture teams from 15 to 20 this year due to high interest, she said.
The weekend festivities officially launched on Thursday night with an opening ceremony on the Green, including an opening remark from College Provost Carolyn Dever, an a cappella performance by the Dartmouth Brovertones and the historic torch-lighting ceremony by the Dartmouth ski team.
Earlier in the day, 20 teams had already begun carving the large blocks of ice on the Green, and the judges will determine the results before announcing the winners of the competition at 4 p.m. on Friday. The top three winners will each receive a prize provided by the Dartmouth Class of 1977 — $600 for the grand prize, $300 for the runner-up and $100 for third place, Gibson said.
The Dartmouth Dodecaphonics will be hosting their Winter Whingding performance in Spaulding Auditorium Friday night at 8 p.m.
Dodecaphonics president Katelyn Onufrey ’15 said that the a cappella group will be performing nine new arrangements. The show will also include performances by Sugarplum and DStyle, she said.
Every member of the a cappella group will be individually featured during the performance as the group seeks to “cater to the excitement for the weekend,” Onufrey said.
Gibson said she expects the human dogsled race — which will happen on Saturday at 2 p.m. — will attract a high percentage of student participation. The races take place on the Green, with participants pulling other students in sleds while wearing brightly-colored, odd clothing.
Weekend activities will also include events sponsored by Greek organizations, including Phi Delta’s chili cook-off this Saturday at 3 p.m. All proceeds from the fundraiser will be given to the Fisher House Foundation, a charity that provides housing for families of veterans receiving treatment at Veterans Affairs hospitals, he said.
Phi Delt member and event organizer Jake Greenberg ’17 said that the event bears particular significance to the fraternity given the rich tradition of its members’ service in the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School and Dartmouth ROTC programs.
With support from the Interfraternity Council, the office of Greek Letter Organizations and Societies, Alpha Delta fraternity, Alpha Phi sorority, Gamma Delta Chi fraternity and the Dartmouth Undergraduate Veterans Association, Greenberg said he hopes that this year’s cook-off will top last year’s attendance of 500 students.
Alumni council president Louis Spelios, who is a member of the Class of 1995, said that he believes that Winter Carnival weekend is a special experience for the alumni that return to the College. He said that many alumni return not only to reunite with friends but also to watch Dartmouth winter sports teams compete over the weekend.
“The alumni really appreciate the opportunity to see students succeed and interact with them to hear what is going on in Hanover,” Spelios said.
The Friday schedule will also include the polar bear plunge at Occom Pond from 10:30 a.m to 1 p.m. as well a 99-cent ski day at the Dartmouth Skiway, with buses picking students at the front of the Hopkins Center from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Gibson said. On Saturday, there will be a “make your own mask” event in Collis Common Ground, where students can design a superhero or supervillain mask. The Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. in Spaulding Auditorium, and comedian Mark Forward will perform a stand-up routine in One Wheelock at 10 p.m.
